by Susan Arden
“Yeah. With your skills. I’m game. Get us to the Den so we can find Sonya,” Sherry said.
Originally and even now, the Fae crossed realms fully equipped with the ability to do harm, but lacking emotional depth which made fitting in next to impossible considering their appearance was stranger than hell. They acted robotic. Hooking up with Carrigan, equated with going from bad to beyond dismal. Carrigan’s crew would supply another layer of vengeance to the Fae’s ability to leech, filling in the emotional void with deep pockets of hatred, and turning the Fae into psychotic killers. But I’ve been fucking warned.
He was their target. They’d shown their ability to find Sherry and him. Proven their intent to extract info and vengeance upon Sherry. How would they know of her whereabouts if she guarded her thoughts? As he moved her around from house to house, he could hide her telepathically. It might disable the Fae’s ability to locate and leech. He’d made her pull her safeguards down. He had to get her to the Den or a place she could ward herself and disappear under the radar of the Fae.
Five minutes from the Den, and no more Fae encounters, Tristen waved them over. “Okay, I checked with the Den guards, so far so good. Shawn is there. What do you want to do? Nothing more has happened at the club. No one has turned up. They’re a little mystified why they’ve been supplied with metallic dust as the newest weaponry, but other than that, it’s cool.”
Quinn glanced over his shoulder. “We’ll go there as planned.”
Sherry had flipped up the visor on the helmet. “I’d like to see the location where Sonya was abducted. I know you’ve looked at it. But I need to see it.”
“There’s no problem going there. I was thinking that maybe… there’s an old neighborhood that would be amenable to this branch of Fae. They’re weak and weakened Fae always seek assistance from sympathizers.” Quinn wanted to protect her, and this close to danger, his wolf was edgy.
“In the military, we called those people traitors,” Tristen supplied.
“Rats,” Fin echoed the sentiment.
“There’s only one type who’d side with Unseelie,” Quinn offered, ready to come out and state his suspicions.
“Who?” Sherry asked.
“Greedy humans. Especially those who are suckers for cold, hard cash,” he responded, squeezing her knee. “Those types are willing do the Fae’s bidding and aren’t aware the Unseelie can’t be trusted.”
Sherry bowed her head, resting her helmet against his shoulder. “They’d be selling more than their souls.”
“Some people are without. So it’s not such a fall from grace,” Fin said.
“There’s one person who comes to mind. Without evidence, I don’t want you to chalk this up as a case of bad blood tainting my objectivity. I think it’s time we pay Mick Carrigan a visit.”
“Okay, then.” Tristen gunned his engine. “Let’s power on. Club first.”
At the gate, the guard waved them through. Quinn rode up to the front door. Gone were the doormen in their crimson coats. The place was empty. A few windows were boarded from storm damage, he suspected.
He parked, cutting the engine. “The lights are on…but nobody is home,” he murmured, ready for anything. “That’s what this is like.”
“What?” Placing her hands on his shoulders, she pressed her chest into his back, and then swung her leg off the back of the cycle. The contact with Sher shot a spasm up his spine.
He lifted off the motorcycle, pivoted, and took hold of her. “They’re not just using humans. They’re binding with humans and it’s not working. They were going to try to become human in order to avoid this disease that’s plaguing their realm.” Quinn’s fingers worked at the strap under her chin.
Instantly, Sherry stiffened. “His eyes were black. Even the whites.”
“Fae eyes.” Unlike hers. Quicksilver flecks spun with gold encircled her pupils creating an ethereal glow that captivated him to the core. He lifted the helmet off her head, placing it on the motorcycle seat.
“That worker looked like he was decaying from the inside out. He smelled awful.” She grimaced, staring up at him.
Quinn felt the pain within her. He drew her closer to him, wishing to absorb what she’d experienced from that fucking Fae freak.
“It’s what happens when Fae touch anything alive. I can’t imagine why the Unseelie would attempt to bind with humans. They can’t live up here as Fae or as human. In the beginning, the Dark Fae were emissaries to bring back emotional hues into the void. The Fae steal what they don’t possess. If they’re sick, the Fae must be in a hell of a lot of trouble to bind to a human. The Earth isn’t hospitable to them. This idea of buying time only speaks to a bigger plan. What? Remains to be seen.”
“Horrid. They’d destroy at will.” Sherry scowled.
“They’re not the most ethical of beings.” He pulled her tighter against him, wanting to connect deeper as though it might somehow safeguard her all too human frailty.
Her hands stroked down his arms as they spoke, evidence she perceived his need. “They lack the energy that holds the particles together. Unless of course, they are working through that problem,” she said.
“I don’t know. If the Light Fae where here, we’d know a portion of the truth. It wouldn’t matter if they could harness stem cell reproduction or the sudden creation of molecular structures, they spread destruction. Unlike you.” He slipped his hand under her shirt, tracing the supple skin across her lower back. This hunger to bond with Sherry was growing stronger, consuming his thoughts.
“Because a spellcaster lost her focus?” Sherry asked, horror spreading over her features.
He stopped caressing her skin. “No. It’s not like that. You didn’t make a mistake. One small ripple isn’t going to upset the universe. I wish I had the power to cross realms like you.”
He poured the power of his emotions into her, desiring to increase her strength even if it meant a decrease in his Lycan abilities. He focused on the depth of his emotions, and sharply inhaled. He was in love with Sherry. Stunned for a second, he hugged her close. He inhaled the scent of her hair, brushing his lips across her temple.
“You’re powerful. I’ve never heard of shifters crossing.”
“No. We’re Earth bound. Baby, you’re the amazing one.”
Sherry pulled back, her expression calmer. “But I’ve got to get to the ley line. Enough ripples or tears would unsettle the realms. From what I hear, it’s what happened yesterday. It makes sense. Strange creatures. Stranger weather.”
“The energy shields your Sisterhood has in place would hardly contain the Dark Fae for long if they were facing eradication. They’re vicious and if this energy force field is subject to holes, it would only be a matter of time before they’d find some point to cross.”
“How do you know? I might not be an immortal, but the Sisterhood harnesses the power of the universe.”
“And maybe that’s another issue for the Fae. And why they’re so interested in spellcasters all of a sudden. All I know is the work you do with this energy line takes a toll from you. Does the Council care that it wipes you out, especially now with the Fae actively hunting?”
“There is nothing they can do. They know that a union with a Lycan balances the equation.” She blanked her expression. Something was up.
Carefully, he asked, “The Fae are aware of it occurring with you? Odd, even Carrigan knew we were involved.”
Her brows drew together. “We didn’t even know. How would they even know this day had arrived?”
“Who else knew? I’ve had dreams but I’ve not shared them.”
Her face paled. “No one. I only shared it with the High Priestess.”
“You’ve contradicted yourself,” he said, bending his head he nipped at her chin, unable to stop himself.
The front door of the Den opened and Shawn stepped out onto the porch. “Bout time you all showed up.” He came up to them, leaned down and hugged Sherry. Quinn’s senses spi
ked and he pointedly reminded himself, Shawn had a mate. He was Quinn’s business partner and friend. No harm.
“You must have lost a serious bet to get on the back of a motorcycle with this one.” Shawn smiled down at Sherry.
“Quinn would put Evel Knievel to shame. Totally safe trip.”
“What the hell are you doing here?” Quinn asked. “And Diana. You didn’t bring her here?”
“Don’t be crazy. She’s with my sister. Far away from here. Same spot you took me. So button your lip. I’m not going to stay holed up while Sonya is missing, or abandon you. Now that you’re...about to get settled.”
“These aren’t your usual freakish Fae,” Quinn returned.
“How so? I thought the Fae only came in one suck-ass flavor?” Shawn asked.
Quinn glanced at Sherry. “These are here for varied reasons and seeking humans out this round. Be careful who you let near you. Anyone with unusually grey coloring is one of them.”
“The shifter network is blazing. Everyone in Denver has their eyes open. So far, the vehicle used was located. Abandoned. No surprise. They must have jumped into another. No tracks. None from Sonya. We following the trails, but coming up short,” Shawn said.
Sherry opened her bag. “I think I can locate her. If she left any personal items in her locker. I can obtain her emotional fingerprint and search for her through the ley lines. She’ll send out pulse points of energy that will feed the lines. It’s worth a shot.”
“Sounds Greek to me,” Shawn said. “Is this what you’ve harbored these last years? Sher, I never thought for a moment you were a random woman in need of an administrative job. What gives?”
“Long story,” Quinn retorted amidst Shawn’s growing curiosity. “I’ll fill you in later.”
Tristen and Fin ambled up. “Jesus and Mary,” Shawn said. “You two made it back on one bike. How’d you figure out who was driving?”
“Easy. Coin toss. We’re not that competitive,” Tristen said.
“Sure. If you say so,” Shawn retorted. “You two should go over the Hummer parked around back. It was used in the kidnapping. There’s some strange features.”
“Like what?” Fin asked.
“It had photographs of you and Fin. Whoever was driving, had you two on their minds.”
“More fans,” Tristen grumbled. “Fine. I’ll see if we can lift some prints. Where did the transfer take place? Fin, I could use some help with prints.”
“Not far from here. Less than a mile,” Shawn supplied.
Fin looked up from his cellphone. “No problem. Afterwards, we should go check out some of the sightings. Christ, all sorts of reports.” The beta shifters walked down the sidewalk.
“I’d like to see where Sonya was abducted,” Sherry said.
Shawn glanced over to Quinn then pinned Sherry with a look of displeasure. “In the front room, from what I can tell,” he said. “She must have fought back, a bottle was broken. I’ll warn you there’s blood. But it’s not hers. No coyote shifter scent only human.”
“Still that’s not good. There’s bound to be someone angry.” Sherry leaned against him, her soft curves provoking his Lycan urge to squirrel her away. The wolf in him rumbled, sniffing the air around her instinctively. Desire for her assaulted him from inside out. She was so goddam delectable, his concentration was wavering. He let the scents around him roll around on this tongue, drawing them deeper into his lungs. Sherry’s essence intoxicated his awareness.
Shit, he’d be useless to protect her from a chipmunk at this rate. He focused on his need to protect her and noted the surrounding area. No Fae stench in the breeze. He tried to relax, but Sherry shifted, grazing his hard-on and he instinctively nudged forward into her softness. She shot him a look and arched her brow. If this continued, he’d infuse her with his out of control hunger and that might be confusing for a human who now had some wolf instincts. Sherry would need all her wits about her. He needed to talk with her about creating a buffer, for her own good.
“Yes. You’re right.” Shawn nodded, meeting his gaze, and quirked his lips. “You seem on edge.”
Quinn ignored Shawn’s smart comment. “I think that warehouse is involved, the one Carrigan’s family owned.”
“That man that came here? Yesterday?” Sherry blurted out. “Where is it located?”
“On the East Side. Why?”
“I just wondered. Can I see Sonya’s locker now?”
Sonya’s locker held a few items of clothing but it was the hairbrush that captured Sherry’s attention. She picked it up, observing random bleeps of energy packets and pulled a couple of strands free. Shooting sparks of energy rose from them when she held them in her palm. “There’s nothing in here that seems to hold much of her energetic fingerprint.”
“What about the clothing?” Quinn asked. “Her scent is ripe on everything.”
Even without direct eye contact, Sherry perceived his protective fury building. Quinn’s attention over her had sharpened severely since they arrived at the Den. “We could distribute small pieces.”
“Exactly. There’s something else I need to ask you.”
Abruptly, she faced him. His tone had gone cold, making the hairs all over her body stand up. She could sense his moods now, drawing from him and renewing her own strength. In hours, they’d formed some sort of psychic connection that enhanced her on many levels.
“Anything,” she said, concern rippling through her body.
He stroked a warm hand down her arm. “Nothing to get strung out about. I was wrong to ask you to remain totally open to me. I want you to do what you did before in the car… with those buffers.”
“Why? Is getting inside my head disrupting your thoughts?” Probably too much chaotic interference. She shouldn’t be surprised.
He hooked his hand around her bicep, drawing her against him. “The exact opposite. I want you safe from the Fae. Can you put up some sort of wall so that they can’t climb inside your mind?”
She answered slowly. “Yes. But it’s probably too late. They more than likely know what I am.”
“But they might not be able to keep track of you if we moved you from place to place. Or take possession of you. I’d like to keep you hidden physically and mentally. That’s my idea.”
“I’m not certain it would work.”
“But you can try. And that’s all I’m asking.”
She also thought it was a good idea with one exception. He was the one who should be warded. Back in the city, it wasn’t likely Quinn would shift into wolf form. After what the Fae had done to her, she wouldn’t let him be subject to their plan for revenge and torture. Not when he sought to protect her by becoming mortal. She had to get to the shield and repair it permanently and that required her utmost concentration. To create a buffer also required power. She’d risk a loss of power for one spell if it protected her mate. “I can try to create a ward.”
“What do you need?”
“Nothing. Stand over there. I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before.” She closed her eyes and moved her hands and spoke an incantation. She perceived a draw of energy, and she focused this protective blanket around her Lycan lover. A coolness crept into the room and she secured this special ward to his being. Quinn would not know what she’d done. “There. That’s all I can do.”
Purposely, she kept her mind blank so he’d not perceive much. She didn’t know what the effect of a warding would be on a Lycan.
Crossing the room, he came to her. “Not to worry.” He bent and pressed his mouth over hers. A kiss connected them, but he was safe.
“We always have our physical connection. Eventually, these things will leave and we’ll reconnect,” She said, trailing her fingers across his chest. “We should get involved in helping find Sonya.”
“I want you near me. At all times. Or in the company of Shawn, Tristen, or Fin. No one else.”
She nodded. “And now, can we focus on Sonya’s
investigation?” she asked.
“Fin and Tristen can undoubtedly use the clothing here.”
“I almost forgot. I should check my email. The High Priestess’s guard should be here shortly. I don’t understand why they haven’t already arrived. They would be helpful in securing the ley line and dealing with the Fae.”
“Seems you’re pretty much on your own when it comes to that Sisterhood.” He frowned. “I’ll speak with Tristen and Fin. See if they found anything in the Hummer. But I don’t want you walking outside Alone. Stay inside until I come back.”
“Doubt the Fae would show up here. Not after we showed them we’re able to defend ourselves.”
“The Fae are in dire straits. I expect to hear from Carrigan sooner than later. Together the Fae and Carrigan are irrational. I only hope they haven’t latched onto other conniving groups.”
“I’ll try to reach out to some Sister casters. They might have an idea of what to do. Perhaps the Sisterhood redirected the guard to another area.” She smiled up at him, forcing herself to take deep breaths, all the while refusing to let her mind race. She needed him to believe her and a thundering heartbeat would alert his ultrasensitive Lycan hearing she was full of it.
Inside the office, he towered over her. Overpowering. Much more so than before when they’d been in her office.
“Baby, if I thought I could get away with it, I’d shut that door and show you how much I need you. Right now. I want you to know how deep our union runs. When we touch, we reconnect. When this is all over, no matter where you want to go—London or staying here—I’ll support you. Be right by your side.”
Her emotions began to bubble. This man who’d been the personification of cool and collected looked at her with an untamed possessive gleam that made her chest tighten. She kept reminding herself, Quinn wasn’t like the men who’d used her mother until there was nothing left.
For love, her mother had forsaken her spellcaster vows. Ruined was how her mother had been dumped on her grand-mere’s porch. Not long afterwards, her poor mom died. The stinging of tears hit her eyes, and she blinked them back. Forced herself to lock her emotions away lest he get a clue.